Hyster® electric trucks are helping manufacturers of finished metal products reduce damage and associated costs at every stage of their operation while maintaining high productivity.
"Metal handling isn't just about big trucks moving pipes and steel plates or heavy-duty lift trucks working in hot casting applications", says Botros Hanna, Industry Manager at Hyster Europe. "Almost every conceivable industry uses some type of metal product at some point."
Numerous manufacturing operations around the world transform metals such as aluminum, copper, or zinc into finished products, ranging from small components to automotive parts. Within the Hyster® range, the right truck can be found to support these operations at every stage of the process.
Materials Arrive as Coils
The first handling challenge is receiving small metal coils on a trailer. Here, Hyster® lift trucks assist in unloading the coils, which are typically small enough to be handled with standard forks, from the truck and transporting them to the warehouse.
A typical lift truck used for this operation is the Hyster® J3.5XN electric four-wheel truck, which features a robust chassis with strong side covers that provide protection against potential impact damage.
"Damage at this stage could mean the metal can't be used in production, leading to unnecessary costs", says Botros. "Hyster® J series lift trucks are popular in these operations as they provide good stability, a strong mast, and smooth handling as standard, helping to prevent loads from shifting or getting damaged."
The Hyster® J3.5XN electric lift trucks offer equivalent performance compared to a Hyster® IC lift truck and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor operation. This makes them ideal machinery for transporting goods from an outdoor loading area to an indoor warehouse.
Thanks to the three-phase motor technology for driving and lifting, these trucks are particularly suited for demanding applications during long shifts. Easily accessible components and integrated diagnostics also help reduce downtime.
